Senate to probe ‘nakaw load’
The Senate committee on science and technology will start today a probe into the numerous complaints about nakaw load, or the disappearance of prepaid mobile phone loads of subscribers.
The inquiry was prompted by a resolution filed by Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, chair of the committee.
Aquino said there is a need “to determine steps to address the problem and prevent it from happening in the future.”
“Let’s not allow our countrymen to be robbed of their money. We cannot ignore these consumer reports of the disappearance of prepaid mobile credits, including mischarges, hidden charges and errors in opt out mechanisms,” he added.
Aquino said there is also a need to look into the capability of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), other relevant government agencies, and regulators to implement rules that will protect prepaid mobile load subscribers.
Expected to attend the hearing are representatives from consumer groups, IT advocacy groups, DICT, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and telecommunication companies PLDT and Globe Telecom.
Aquino said the DICT, as the country’s primary agency for communications technology, is mandated under Republic Act 10844 or the DICT Act of 2015 to have oversight over agencies in the ICT sector and ensure consumer protection and welfare.
According to the NTC, 97 percent, or around 126 million, of the country’s 130 million mobile phone owners are prepaid subscribers.
With the DTI and the NTC both mandated to protect consumers of prepaid mobile credits, Aquino said it is important these two agencies are well-coordinated and must sufficiently facilitate and address consumer complaints.
“Let’s check and ensure that our government agencies and regulators are equipped with the systems, equipment and technical capacity to determine the compliance of telcos,” he said.
Concerned government agencies such as the DTI and NTC must also have the capacity to respond to complaints related to the abrupt expiration or disappearance of prepaid mobile credits.